Aposentillo (the boom), ni
If you don't surf, there is probably a close to zero percent chance that you come here. Well I guess if you are the partner of a surfer and you don't surf, that may be the only other reason why you would come. This part of Nicaragua, the rural north, doesn't have much going on, and really feels like you have stepped right back in time. Up here though, you have in my opinion one of the best beach breaks in the entire world. In addition there are other waves all up and down the northern coast that are some of the most unexplored in the whole country. Drive far enough and you just might find an empty slab that you can name yourself with your friends. It's a magical part of Nicaragua, but with that being said, outside of surfing there is nothing at all to do. We were up every morning at 4 am and surfing a few times a day and we still got bored here. The wave itself, I will get into it more below but deserving of the word epic when working. Needs high tide, and low wind. Fickle, but worth the wait. Early mornings are the name of the game here. Without a vehicle it will be hard to access the other waves in the area without signing up for the luxury surf tours. Most people come up here for a week or two. With a big group of surfers, stay at one of the luxury surf hotels and just get slid into barrels for a week. If you don't have your own vehicle, moving around the area is certainly difficult, and you'll be limited to a few waves. But if you have your own vehicle, the world is your oyster. If you like surfing empty waves that seemingly have no name yet, then this is your place. Outside of surfing, it's a very mellow little town. There's a few hostels, some nice little hotels that aren't crazy expensive, and there's always a nice little crew of people in town who are surfing the wave. Slow life here. Surfing, sleeping, napping, some beers, repeat.
Aposentillo is up in the far rural north of Nicaragua. Which is already a rural country to begin with. The nearest big town, or really anything that can be referred to as a town at all is called Chinandega. It's about an hour away. If you don't have your own vehicle, that's the first thing you will need to do, get to Chinandega. From there you will be able to catch a public bus into Aposentillo. Getting in with your own car is obviously the easiest, and if you are flying in for a few weeks to surf, then you will be getting picked up by the surf camp of your choosing so they will solve all that for you. I will only get into bus and car transport, because I assume that if you are coming here by air, you are just going to be coming for a short time and the surf camp you choose will handle it all.
Another important name to know is Assedores. This is the little town that actually sits in front of 'The Boom'. It's just next to Aposentillo. The cheap accommodation, the little markets, and places to eat are here.
BY CAR - Certainly the easiest and simplest. You are only about 2 hours from the border of Honduras. So after crossing, if you are making your way down, drive through Chinandega and then head over to Aposentillo. It's an easy drive. Take route 12 out of Chinandega all the way to this point where you take a left and continue into Aposentillo/Assedores.
BY BUS - First you need to get to Chinandega. From there you can pick up a public bus or a chicken bus that will take you to Aposentillo. If you are staying at a hostel in Assedores, then you will have to walk. The route with the bus will include some form of walking. Or hitchhiking. You can pick the bus up here in Chinandega at the Mercado Santa Ana. It will cost $1, and take 2 hours.
HOSTELS, CAMPING, AND HOTELS (IF ANY)
There’s really not a whole lot here in the form of accommodation. Lots of little places that you can find deals though if you do your research on Airbnb and stuff.
I will give you the hostel and hotel options that I know of below, and also call out the luxury surf camps. They do a great job, but they area expensive. But, considering how hard this place is to get to, if you aren't already in Nicaragua this is your best option.
Essentially you have options up and down the quality spectrum here. Something for everyone.
A really amazing place right up on the cliff. The owner is a guy named 'Garret', who is super mellow. Amaru is just a special place, and the best place in the area to come up for sunset. It's not going to break the bank to stay here, but if you are on a backpacker budget it's probably out of your price range. You can come up here to chill or have dinner though. — Always really cool people around everywhere.
My favorite hostel in town. I wish I had stayed here longer than I did when I was here. It's right in front of Aposentillo beach, which isn't 'The Boom', and is a really good wave for beginners. But the hostel is right in front of the water, it's cheap, it's nice, and it's the best option for budget accommodation.
A small little hostel in Assadores. This means it's about as close as you can get to 'The Boom'. Budget dirtbagging surfers will stay here. It's cheap, super-basic, and they also have probably the best breakfast in town.
UPDATE: CLOSED AND IS NOW A HOUSE DIRECTLY FOR RENT
Another hostel in Assadores. So close to 'The Boom'. They have a pool and a bar, but it's slightly more expensive than the Boom Hostel. But, it's a nicer facility without a doubt.
EATS
I stayed here for about a week. If you are here for true surf exploration, and don't want to spend any money then stay here. This is a little Airbnb that you can rent. It's no more than 4 wooden walls in an unkempt lot. The shower is a hose that's run through a coca cola bottle with holes on the bottom. The place is so unbelievably basic you would think you're in a shitty Alaskan bush cabin. But it's hot and buggy. However, this is adventure. It's also like $8 a night, and there's 4 beds or so. So if you are with a group, and on a budget, hit it up.
The name means 'sandals'. They were the originals here. The first camp down at The Boom. Owned by an expat family, and they have the only place that is actually located immediately on The Boom. It's right in front of the wave, so in the morning you just walk right out front. It's a nice place, but will be expensive. Family-friendly as well.
Small little spot over on Nahualapa. Which is a really nice little beach with a wave out front they called 'playgrounds'. — For a reason, it's a fun little easy wave, as compared to the scary and intimidating Boom.
Probably the leader in the surf camp world. They have a bunch of 4x4's, and will take you out a few times a day and get you on great waves. They have a little house right on Aposentillo Beach, which is where you will stay. Usually it's bigger groups all staying together here. The price is going to be high, but they do everything for you. — Really good operation.
Property over on the beach called 'Nahualapa'. It's a weird little restaurant on a huge piece of land, but they rent out the palapas in the back for super cheap. The accommodation was nice, but very buggy.
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The Nicaragua location of the Rise Up Surf Camp. A nice place that will have a lot of more activities than surfing, like yoga and what not. This is more for the people who want to come learn to surf. They will get you on the smaller easier waves as compared to 'Thunderbomb', who takes more advanced people to get barrelled for a week.
Extremely, extremely limited options of where to eat here. For the most part you will be either cooking your own food, or the hotel/hostel that you are staying at will have a place that you can buy food. If you are coming in with your own vehicle, stock up in Chinandega, there isn't a whole lot going on in town.
There's a few places though that I can recommend to grab some food. Limited though. Expect that where you are staying will have to feed you.
A bar, restaurant, hotel and surf resort. A good option, and you have everything you need on site. It's a lot cheaper than the other surf camps, and it's going to be a lot nicer than the budget accommodation. — A really good option, probably the best, if you want something down the middle.
Restaurants
Little local spot for dinner. They have a pretty decent array of options.
A bakery started by a good friend of mine. Shout out Gabriel. Go and grab a focaccia or a sour dough. He bakes amazingly.
Little healthy food spot.
A small restaurant over on Nahualapa. Limited options, and I wouldn't make your way over here unless you are already in Nahualapa.
Local little restaurant and bar with good local plates. This is also probably the only place that you can go out and there might be a party. — Like once a week or something.
Amaru has awesome food for dinner, and they sometimes do pizza. Come up here for the sunset and stay and grab some dinner.
NIGHTLIFE
Don't expect to find any nightlife here. Beers before bed.
SIGHTS
You are here to surf, and nothing else. The surfing section is the 'things to do and see' section.
SURFING
The only reason you are here is to surf. It's a damn good reason too. This is one of my favorite waves in all of Central America when it's working. The place is famous for 'The Boom', which is amazing, and deserving of its famousness. But it's an extremely fickle wave. It needs a lot of things. Particularly high tide, and low wind. So, that means that you are looking at very early mornings when you have a high tide. I sat around here for about 12 days and I scored 3 times. Need the tide, and need the wind. You will rarely be able to score an afternoon session, but the morning dawn patrol is probably enough to keep you satisfied for the day if you score it.
When you stand up on a wave you have almost no other choice than to get barreled. Most of the time it's going to let you squeak right out as well. It's just one of the most beautiful and amazing waves I have ever seen in my life.
The area around here also has so many waves. The surf camps all have 4x4 off-road vehicles, so they will take you along the beaches up to the north and south, and get you on obscure beach breaks where you won't see another surfer out of your group. If you are traveling with your own car, I hope it's 4x4, it opens up the world of The Boom in a very big way.
In addition to The Boom there are some learning waves in the area. I have outlined all the different wavs below, and there's a big graphic thanks to
Photos by my boy German. Check him out on instagram for daily inspiration.
Credit to Las Dunas for the wave map.
and more...
If you have a car, there are just so many spots you can get to. It's real, raw and true surf exploration. A thing that doesn't really exist anymore.
THE BOOM
The famous, and epic one. It gets its name from the noise that the wave makes when it crashes, because it can get that heavy. Boom. El Boom is a beach break with rocks that works best at high tide. It boasts a very consistent surf break that receives substantial swell, with an ideal swell size ranging from 2-6 feet and a world-class barrel spot wave quality rated 5 out of 5. It features both right and left-hand breaks, and is accessible by free surfing road, a 20-minute walk, or 5 minutes by bike/car.
La Isla
La Isla is a beach break with rocks, functioning best from low to mid-tide. It has an inconsistent surf break, only active on big swells, with an ideal swell size of 6-8 feet, and a wave quality rating of 4 out of 5. This spot offers a left-hand break, and is accessible by boat only, — around $7 per person.
Playa Maderas
Playa Maderas is a beach break with a sand bottom. It works best from low to mid-tide, and offers a very consistent surf break that receives a lot of swell. The ideal swell size is 2-3 feet, with a wave quality rated 3 out of 5. It features both right and left-hand breaks and is accessible by boat only, costing approximately $10 per person.
Aposentillo Beach
Aposentillo Beach is a beach break with a sand bottom, operating best from mid to high-tide. It offers a consistent surf break with an ideal swell size of 1-3 feet, and a wave quality rated 4 out of 5, — ideal for beginners, intermediates, and longboarders. It features both right and left-hand breaks.
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